A Suffolk man accused of brandishing a sword at a caravan site near Woodbridge has been cleared by a jury.

Before Ipswich Crown Court was Timothy Richardson, 34, of Rendham Road, Saxmundham, who denied threatening Russell Straker with a weapon on April 7.

Giving evidence Mr Straker said he went to the New Age travellers’ site at Sutton Heath to visit Mr Richardson, who he had known for a few years.

He claimed that as soon as he got out of his car Mr Richardson started shouting abuse at him and said: “I’ve got something for you. I’ve bought it specially for you. I want to hear you gurgle with your own blood.”

He claimed Richardson produced a sword and started trying to attack him with it.

He managed to avoid being struck with the weapon and said he thought he was going to be killed.

Armed police and the police helicopter were called and Richardson was arrested after he climbed out of a window of his double decker bus.

A jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him not guilty of the charge this afternoon.